Guest  Editorial : Journal Of Space Syntax (JOSS)

• When we, as guest editors of the first, special issue of the Journal of Space Syntax, were first asked to centre the selection of papers around the work of our own research group and the 'Scandinavian perspective', our reaction was not only humble surprise but also a certain amount of scepticism. While the request was flattering, there is so much high quality space syntax research ongoing throughout the world - as indeed the 7th Symposium showed - that the whole idea seemed alien to us. There are also several researchers using space syntax in Scandinavia outside of our research group, so we cannot claim to represent 'Scandinavian space syntax research'. Yet, after some consideration we agreed to do it, not because we feel we are the strongest or best in the field, but because of how we have come to regard the field and its current development, where we in Stockholm can serve as one of many examples of a process we think is positive, promising, and exciting. Much of this has to do with the emergence of local research groups, with their own styles and interpretations generated in part by how space syntax theory and method engages with local conditions such as new contexts, traditions, problems, and cultures. We believe it is a strength of the field that there are several emerging 'hubs' of space syntax research, and that these can be recognised not only by their selection of empirical cases but by how they seem to define 'space syntax'. In this sense, even if we cannot represent 'Scandinavian space syntax research', we can serve as an example of how space syntax is modulated as it enters a Scandinavian context. For this reason, in order to continue this line of discussion, it may serve best to begin with trying to briefly map out our context, before returning to the question of concurrent knowledge production and why local communities are of specific interest in the present situation.

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